Circuit at your own pace Madrid - Galicia

1st Day. Origin - Madrid

Upon arrival at the chosen hotel we will check-in and get ready to enjoy the local culture.

We will take this day as free time to unpack our luggage and relax with a walk and a good overview of the city and its streets. After this free afternoon we will return to the hotel to be well rested for the next day with more action.

Day 2. Madrid - Royal Palace (optional)

We will have breakfast at the hotel and at the agreed time we will go to tour the city. We are going to suggest an itinerary to fully explore the heart of Madrid in two days.

We will start at kilometer zero of the roads in Spain, the Puerta del Sol. This square is one of the most popular in the city since in it we find some of its greatest representative elements: the statue of the bear and the strawberry tree and that of Carlos III on horseback, the Post Office building or the Tío Pepe advertisement, among others.

We will continue along Calle Mayor to Plaza Mayor in Madrid. Inaugurated in 1619, it has a completely closed rectangular floor plan with arcaded residential buildings and 237 balconies. It consists of 10 entrances, the most renowned being the Arco de Cuchilleros. Two buildings also stand out, the Casa de la Carnicería and the Casa de la Panadería where even today it is possible to see the coat of arms of King Carlos II.

Leaving the Plaza we can stop at the Mercado de San Miguel and observe its original iron structure from the beginning of the s. XX.

From there we will arrive at the Basilica of San Miguel, declared a National Historic Artistic Monument in 1984, it is one of the most important Baroque buildings in Spain despite its small size. This is especially due to the unique convex shape of its façade.

We will stroll around this area a bit until we reach the Almudena Cathedral. Its construction lasted more than 100 years, it was consecrated in 1993, and it is impressive more for its grandeur and history than for its style. It is possible to visit both the cathedral and the crypt for a donation of €1 and the museum and the dome for a combined fee of €6.

Next to the cathedral we find the Royal Palace of the s. XVIII. If we so choose, within the two optional visits in Madrid, we will be able to investigate it in depth. It is one of the largest and most spectacular in all of Europe and just looking at the Gasparini Hall is worth it.

When we have finished seeing the Royal Palace, we will continue our tour to the Plaza de Oriente, just in front of the Puerta del Príncipe. Here is a statue on horseback from the s. XVII of Felipe IV and just behind the Royal Theater.

Passing in front of the Sabatini Gardens we will arrive at the Principe Pio Mountain. It has a viewpoint with impressive views of the Royal Palace, and more importantly the Temple of Debod. This small temple was donated by the Egyptian government and moved stone by stone. It is over 2,200 years old.

Right next to this Mountain is the Plaza de España, another of the best known. Here we will observe the 35-meter monument to Cervantes with the Edificio España and the Torre de Madrid in the background.

From this point we will take the Gran Vía to conclude our day strolling through this great artery of Madrid.

Day 3. Madrid - Reina Sofía Museum (optional)

Second day in our escapade through Madrid. Breakfast and ready we will continue the adventure where we left off yesterday. In this case starting with the Círculo de Bellas Artes. The 360 ​​views of the Madrid sky from its rooftop have become a must-see on any route in Madrid.

We will pass through the Plaza Cibeles, with its famous fountain surrounded by palaces, to the Puerta de Alcalá. It is a triumphal arch that dates back to 1778 and was built to celebrate the arrival in Madrid of King Carlos III.

We will enter the Retiro Park through the Puerta de la Independencia. The Retiro Park is another of the most iconic spots in Madrid. It is almost 400 years old and two things stand out in particular: the monument to Alfonso XII in the Estanque Grande and the Palacio de Cristal, a beautiful metal and glass structure from 1887 that was originally going to be a greenhouse.

We will cross this urban park until the exit at the Puerta de Felipe IV and we will approach the Jerónimos Church. This was part of one of the most important monasteries in Madrid of which only the aforementioned church and a Renaissance cloister remain. Today it is one of the most spectacular in Madrid and one that houses more history.

From here we will pass by the building of the R.A.E. and we will finish at the Neptune Fountain from 1786. It is a neoclassical style fountain that occupies the center of the Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo. A few meters away we will find the Plaza de las Cortes de Madrid where we will see the building of the Congress of Deputies with its lions at the door and the statue in homage to Miguel de Cervantes under which in 2009 a time capsule buried in 1834 was found.

Back on Paseo del Prado we will complete the day in the art triangle with the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Reina Sofía Museum.

If the previous day we did not choose the Royal Palace, now will be the time to enter the Reina Sofía, the most visited museum in Spain. In the permanent collection of the museum, there is a core of works by great Spanish artists of the 20th century, especially Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró, widely represented and with some of their best works.

After the experience, we will return to our hotel for a well-deserved rest.

Day 4. Madrid - Santiago de Compostela

Once we get up we will delight ourselves with a splendid breakfast at the hotel and later we will check-out since today we will spend the night in Santiago de Compostela.

A long trip awaits us since it will take us a large part of the day and we will have to make several stops if we make the trip by car.

If we decide on the train or plane, that time will be reduced to less than half, being able to enjoy a few more hours at our destination.

In any case, once in Santiago we will go to our assigned accommodation, check-in and pack our luggage. Depending on the time of arrival and the rest we need, we still have the possibility of establishing a first contact with the city before returning to the hotel to spend the night.

Day 5. Santiago de Compostela guided tour

Breakfast at hotel. Our first day in Santiago de Compostela begins. We will go to the agreed point where our guide will start the guided tour.

We will see different places in the city declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity, such as its Cathedral, entering through its Pórtico de la Gloria, Plazas de Platerías, Plaza del Obradoiro or the Parador Reyes Católicos.

When we say goodbye to our guide, we will go to the Mercado de Abastos de Santiago, which has been in operation for the last three centuries, becoming a leading center for the marketing of fresh produce. It is a perfect place to enjoy a tasting of typical Galician products, cheeses and wines.

Then we will have the afternoon free to investigate again what we liked most about Santiago de Compostela or any additional option.

At the end of the day we will return to the assigned accommodation to relax.

Day 6. Tour to Ribeira Sacra

Breakfast at hotel. The second day begins to discover Galicia and our recommendation is to take a tour to Ribeira Sacra, a land marked by the Sil and Miño rivers, which as they pass through the mountains, shape a beautiful landscape. In addition, the largest concentration of Romanesque-style religious buildings in Europe are concentrated in this beautiful place.

It is a beautiful area between Lugo and Ourense, about 100 kilometers from Santiago. We will know the elements that most identify the region through different monumental buildings. It is the region of Europe with the largest amount of rural Romanesque thanks, in part, to the 18 monasteries it houses. It is worth mentioning the Monastery of San Pedro de Rocas, which was in charge of giving shelter to the first Galician monks in addition to being excavated on the rock itself. Totally different is the Monastery of Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil which impresses with its beauty and the details that adorn its different rooms, its great state of conservation make us marvel at this unique experience.

We will also make a stop at the main viewpoints of the Sil River to observe the beauty of the area, full of large extensions of vineyards, hidden monasteries and some dazzling waterfalls.

If we wish, it is possible to access a D.O. Mencía where they will explain the winemaking process to us and we will taste one of the best wines of Galicia.

Another option is to recreate ourselves with a Catamaran Ride through the Sil River canyons. From there it is possible to admire the falls that reach 500 meters in several areas, the slopes of more than 70% or the walls of the canyon with less slopes in which the centenary vineyards of the Ribeira Sacra Denomination of Origin are found.

Once this full day is over, I return to Santiago de Compostela.

7th Santiago de Compostela - Origin

We have breakfast and check - out at the hotel to leave it. If you chose to rent the car, it will be left in the indicated place.

We wish you a safe journey back and that you have enjoyed these days.

• In case of traveling with your own car, the meeting point will be the first accommodation.
• Check-in: Since 12:00 a.m., at your choice.

• It is advisable to always wear comfortable clothing and comfortable shoes in any type of experience and visit. Some of the routes are longer than others and it would be a good idea to plan departure times well in advance.
• Be careful on the road, the trip and visits are enjoyed more calmly and on time.
• There is a possibility of change this itinerary if you wish in case you come with your own car.

• 7 days / 6 nights in bed and breakfast basis 
• 3 nights in Madrid
• 3 nights in Santiago de Compostela
• Tickets to the Reina Sofía Museum / Tickets for the Royal Palace of Madrid
• Guided tour of Santiago de Compostela
• Free Cancellation Insurance (up to 30 coverages)

The circuit includes one of these two activities to choose from: tickets to the Reina Sofía Museum or tickets for the Royal Palace of Madrid

HOW TO FORMALISE YOUR RESERVATION

Our travel agency advised to book minimum 15 days in advance for a better management. It remains feasible to book this gateway although is made less than 15 days. However it is advisable to do it with more time in advance.

A deposit of 60€ will be required so as to formalise the reservation.

Once your reservation has been formalised, shortly after, our team will be in contact with you to specify all of the details. Once the reservation is finalised, we will send you all the information for your compliance.

Once all the services have been booked and confirmed, the client must make full payment minus the deposit paid in advance, 15 days before the beginning date. In case the reservation has been formalised less than 15 days before starting date, the client must paid in full the total amount

NO CANCELLATION FEE up to 7 days before beginning date. In this case, we will refund the total amount paid as deposit. Up to 7 days before the start date, there is no cancellation fee. In the unlikely event that it gets cancel, the deposit will get refund in full.

If you require any further information, please contact us via email info@getingalicia.com or mobile/whatsapp (+34) 639 935 925  

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